What is a free school? Everything you need to know
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All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school.
All state schools receive funding through their local authority or directly from the government.
But there are different types of state school – these include free schools, which account for a significant number of the new schools being built and opened around the country.
Here we answer your questions on free schools.
What is a free school?
Free schools are a type of academy - schools that are run by charities rather than the local authority (council) and cannot be run for financial profit.
They are funded by central government and have a range of freedoms including the freedom to teach in an innovative way, whether that is focusing on STEM subjects or taking a different approach to learning.
Over 600 free schools are open across England. They include primary, secondary, all-through, and standalone sixth forms, as well as schools specifically for children with special educational ne...
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